Somaliland: Human Rights Centre condemns opposition and media crackdown

On Sunday night, 17^th November 2019, the Police in Somaliland arrested two opposition leaders, Khadar Hussein Abdi, the secretary-general of Waddani, and the spokesperson of the party, Barkhad Jama Batun.

Waddani is the main opposition party of Somaliland, which came second in the last presidential election.

Earlier that day the leadership of the party called its supporters to gather at the party’s headquarters to “receive information.” The Police Commissioner, Mohamed Adan Saqandhi, called the announcement illegal and said they will prevent such gathering to happen.

Today, 18^th November, police officers closed down the headquarters of Horn Cable TV in Hargeisa. Also, the police arrested the acting editor of Horn Cable TV, Abdikadir Oman (Oday). No court warrant has been shown to the managers of the television, according to sources who spoke to HRC.

Article 32 of the Constitution of Somaliland states that “every citizen shall have the freedom, in accordance with the law, to express his opinions orally, visually, artistically or in writing or in any other way.”

Paragraph 2 of article 32 says “every citizen shall have the freedom, in accordance with the law, to organise or participate in any peaceful assembly or demonstration.”

The Constitution guarantees freedom of media and says “the press and other media are part of the fundamental freedoms of expression and are independent. All acts to subjugate them are prohibited.”

“It is the first time in Somaliland’s history since the multiparty system was adopted such a high number of senior political leaders are jailed. The unprecedented actions of the government are very worrisome. Political parties have a right to protest. It is a constitutional right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” says Yasmin Omar Haji Mohamoud, the chairperson of Human Rights Centre.

 “We condemn the crackdown of opposition politicians and journalists. We call on the government to respect the constitution and release politicians and journalists,” she added.

Human Rights Centre expresses concern over the shrinking space in Somaliland. We urge the government to stop violations of constitutional rights and suppression of opposition leaders.

Yasmin Omar Haji Mohamoud

The chairperson of the Human Rights Centre